Kodak has just added the EasyShare M point-and-shoot camera to their fashionable M530 model. Compact, beautiful and many features.
With its unique design, the front of the M530 incorporates a metal frame (blue) and a black lacquered aluminum profile to create a very distinctive style. The machine is quite thin and compact.
Included accessories include battery chargers, USB cables and manuals.
The EasyShare M530 looks elegant, neat and the details are neatly designed.
On the right side there is only a USB port to connect to the computer.
The M530 uses lithium-ion batteries and SD memory cards.
The face on the machine looks very clean, the buttons slightly submersible but easy to hit. Note that the right edge of the machine is thicker than the left edge, making it easier for the user to feel comfortable.
The 2.7″ LCD screen is bright and sharp, with easy-to-use buttons for easy, intuitive menus.
Kodak Easyshare M530 12 MP Digital Camera with 3x Wide Angle Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Carbon): Buy it now
Kodak Easyshare M530 12 MP Digital Camera with 3x Wide Angle Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue): Buy it now
Kodak Easyshare M530 12 MP Digital Camera with 3x Wide Angle Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Red): Buy it now
Kodak Easyshare M530 12 MP Digital Camera with 3x Wide Angle Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Green): Buy it now
Overview
Cheap, simple, point-and-shoot. This is Kodak’s answer for someone who wants a camera, not a hobby.
Design and build
Small enough to forget it’s in your pocket. Grip’s modest, but it works. Shutter, zoom, mode dial — that’s the whole control scheme, and there’s nothing to learn beyond it. Plastic. Light, cheap-feeling, and fine for daily use anyway. Turn it on and the lens cover pops open by itself — one less way for the glass to get scratched up in your bag.
Screen
The screen does its job for framing and checking shots, though it looks its age next to anything newer. Outside on a bright day, you’ll be squinting — same story as most cameras this size.
Sensor and lens
12 megapixels is plenty for web photos and standard prints, even if it’s an older CCD sensor rather than the CMOS type newer cameras use. The processor handles exactly what this camera needs and not an ounce more. The 5x zoom stretches from wide to a modest telephoto and stays sharp for most of that range — push it all the way out and it softens a bit.
Stabilization and ISO
Stabilization is digital, which helps some but won’t save a shaky shot the way optical systems do, especially zoomed in. ISO covers 64 to 3200. Low end stays clean, high end gets grainy — fine for a snapshot, not for anything serious after dark.
Video
VGA, 30fps. Basic even for its time, fine for a quick clip, nothing more.
Usability
Auto mode, scene presets, video mode — the dial covers what a casual shooter needs without asking questions. A few basic tweaks are available if you want them: image quality, white balance, color effects. USB and an SD card slot cover the essentials; no wireless anywhere. Battery gets you through a few hundred shots, which is plenty for a normal day out.
Against the competition
Canon’s A3100 IS ties it on resolution and beats it on stabilization and screen sharpness. Panasonic’s FH20 goes bigger across the board — more resolution, longer zoom, better stabilization. Sony’s W310 has less zoom but wins on stabilization and display. The pattern repeats every time: digital stabilization is what keeps this camera a step behind.
Bottom line
No surprises. Decent light, a subject that isn’t sprinting, and this camera does what you’d expect. Anyone who’s compared specs online will find better elsewhere. But if you just want to toss a camera in your bag and not think about it, this one’s fine.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.